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{{Short description|Suburban and former fishing community in Nova Scotia, Canada}}

'''Herring Cove, Nova Scotia''', [[Canada]], at 44°34'; [[Latitude|North]] and 63°33'; [[Latitude|West]], is a community located 15 km southwest of central [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]] at the mouth of [[Halifax Harbour]], and at the intersection of [[Nova Scotia]] collector highways [[Nova Scotia Highway 253|# 253]] and [[Nova Scotia Highway 349|# 349]].

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

{{Location map|Canada Nova Scotia

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|lat_deg = 44

|lat_min = 34

|lat_sec = 13

|lon_deg = 63

|lon_min = 34

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|caption = Herring Cove in [[Nova Scotia]]

}}

'''Herring Cove''' (2006 pop.: 2,790)<ref>''Nova Scotia Community Counts:'' [http://www.gov.ns.ca/finance/communitycounts/profiles/community/default.asp?gnum=com910&gview=2&glevel=com Statistical profile]</ref> is a Canadian [[suburb]]an and former fishing community in [[Nova Scotia]]'s [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax Regional Municipality]]. It is situated on the eastern shore of the [[Chebucto Peninsula]], {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Downtown Halifax]]. It is near the western approaches to [[Halifax Harbour]], and can be reached both via [[Purcell's Cove]] along the coastal road and from inland via the Herring Cove Road through [[Spryfield]]. There are two schools in Herring Cove, William King Elementary and [[Herring Cove Junior High]]. The community is also home to a small variety of small businesses and programs.

The area was known by the local [[Mi'kmaq]] aboriginal people as "Moolipchugechk" meaning a 'deep chasm or gorge', possibly due to the long deep cove or nearby rocky cliffs. European settlement in the area occurred following the settlement of Halifax, sometime around [[1790]].

It is notable as the landing point for several [[transatlantic communications cable]]s including the fastest connectivity between London, England, and New York City.

On [[November 24]] [[1797]], the frigate [[HMS Tribune]] ran aground on nearby [[shoals]]. Only 12 of the ship's 250 passengers and crew survived. The rescue was orchestrated by 13-year old Herring Cove resident [[Joe Cracker]] who rallied the community to the ship's aid and rescued the first two passengers in his small dory. There is a monument to Cracker at Tribune Head.

==History==

Early surveyor's maps list the community as Dunk Cove, named for [[George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax]], also the namesake of the nearby city. The present name has been attributed to either the surname of early settlers, or the abundance of [[herring]] in the [[cove]]. Along with the rest of [[Halifax County, Nova Scotia|Halifax County]], Herring Cove became part of the [[Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia|Halifax Regional Municipality]] (HRM) in 1996.

The cove was called "Moolipchugechk" by the indigenous [[Miꞌkmaq]] people, meaning a narrow and deep chasm or valley. Michael O'Power was granted a 90-hectare land grant in 1749 on the eastern side of Herring Cove. [[John Salusbury (diarist)|John Salusbury]] owned a {{convert|130|acre|abbr=on}} estate there in 1750, renting land to an early settler named Henry Lather. Salusbury sold his estate within a few years. European settlement occurred in earnest in the late 1700s. Many current residents are the descendants of original [[Irish Catholics|Irish-Catholic]] settlers to the area.<ref>[https://novascotia.ca/archives/places/page.asp?ID=290 C. Bruce Fergusson, "Herring Cove, Halifax County", ''Place-Names and Places of Nova Scotia'', Public Archives of Nova Scotia (1967) p. 290-291]</ref>

In 1777, during the [[American Revolution]], eleven fishermen from Herring Cove captured seven American privateers. The privateers were making their way back to [[New England]] in a [[shallop]] after the American ship {{ship||Hope|1764 ship|2}} destroyed their vessel off the coast of [[Canso, Nova Scotia|Canso]]. The fishermen were given a reward for their valour.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/halifaxhistory00akinuoft#page/77/mode/1up/search/privateer Akins. History of Halifax, p. 77]</ref><ref>Malcolm McIntire led the Herring Cove fishermen. (Council Minutes, 28 Dec. 1777: PRO, CO 217/54, 146-147</ref>

Although traditionally a fishing community as the name implies, during the past fifty years it has become populated with commuters who work in Halifax. Still, many residents are descendants of original [[Irish-Catholic]] settlers.

On [[November 24]], [[1797]], the frigate [[{{HMS |Tribune]]|1796|6}} ran aground on nearby [[shoals]]. Only 12 of the ship's 250 passengers and crew survived. The rescue was orchestrated by [[Joe Cracker]], a 13-year -old Herring Cove resident [[Joe Cracker]], who rallied the community to the ship's aid and rescued the first two passengers in his small dory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newscotland1398.net/hfxrm/tribuneplq.html|title=Joe Cracker, HMS Tribune|website=www.newscotland1398.net|access-date=2019-02-14}}</ref> There is a monument to Cracker at nearby Tribune Head which is named after the wreck. A schoolgirl at the time of the original monument dedication, Margaret Alice (Sullivan) Power recited the story of the ''Tribune'' to all who attended and again recited from memory the same poetic verse story at a re-dedication in 1996 at age 82.

Early surveyor's maps list the community as Dunk Cove, named for [[George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax]], also the namesake of the nearby city. Some years prior to establishment of Halifax in 1749, the waters of Halifax Harbour and the outer bay were surveyed by two brothers with the surname Herring who were stationed at the cove during the survey period. The present name has may have been incorrectly attributed to either the surname of early settlers, or the abundance of [[herring]] in the cove.

Tall rugged granite cliffs overlook the Atlantic Ocean in all directions. This area, known as "The Look-off" has become a very popular place to hike and picnic. At the highest point on the cliffs (about 100 ft. above sea level, though only a few feet inland), there is an unfinished monument, which is made up of a pile of rocks in memory of George Brown, an Olympic Rower. From here there is a spectacular panoramic view of the ocean and as far as Fairview on one side and Eastern Passage on the other, not to mention the perfect view of the passing of all sorts of ships from cruise ships to the world's largest tankers, as well as the daily flow of recreational sailors.

The narrow, but deep and sheltered, cove hosted 25 commercial fishing boats at its peak, operating out of a small government wharf and private jetties and fish sheds. However, the last working fisherman, Reg Dempsey, retired in 2018. Some retired fishermen still keep their boats in the cove for recreation. Former fishing wharves and sheds are now used for small recreational boats.<ref>[http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1572769-demont-hauling-traps-one-last-time-herring-cove%E2%80%99s-last-fisherman-set-to-retire John Demont, "Hauling traps one last time, Herring Cove’s last fisherman set to retire", ''Chronicle Herald'', May 24, 2018]</ref>

As an unincorporated rural community, Herring Cove was part of the [[Halifax County, Nova Scotia|Municipality of the County of Halifax]] until April 1, 1996, when all municipalities in the county were amalgamated into the [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax Regional Municipality]] (HRM). Today, Herring Cove's economy is dictated not by the fishery, but by its proximity to the HRM's urban core as a bedroom community. Several subdivisions have been built in recent decades (since about 1980), leading to the decision by the [[Halifax Regional Water Commission]] in February 2007 to extend municipal water and sanitary sewage service to the area.

The population in [[2001]] was 1,530.

===Underwater cables===

[[Category:Communities in the Halifax Regional Municipality]]

As of 2000, undersea connections in Herring Cove connected it with Europe via a {{convert|5,500|km|abbr=on}} cable to Liverpool, another {{convert|5,600|km|abbr=on}} cable to Dublin, to Boston via a {{convert|750|km|abbr=on}} cable.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110718172419/http://newscotland1398.ca/hist/nshistory51.html History of Nova Scotia, 2000 January 16-31]}}</ref> As of 2012 [[Hibernia Networks|Hibernia Atlantic]] will add direct connections to London and New York City for a total distance of {{convert|6012|km|abbr=on}},<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8753784/The-300m-cable-that-will-save-traders-milliseconds.html|title = The $300m cable that will save traders milliseconds}}</ref> about 11% more than the [[great circle]] route absolute minimum of {{convert|5,583|km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://v-flyer.com/the-toolbox/blue-marble-mapper |title=Blue Marble Mapper - Great Circle Routes on the NASA Blue Marble Map |access-date=2012-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223130815/http://v-flyer.com/the-toolbox/blue-marble-mapper |archive-date=2012-02-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The {{convert|30,000|ft2|abbr=on|order=flip}} [[cable landing station]] at Hospital Point on Herring Cove remains the densest cluster of sub-70 [[millisecond]] (ms) connectivity on the north Atlantic, the critical link on cables that connect the English speaking world's financial centres.

[[Category:Coves]]

In the late 1990s, the Hibernia Atlantic trans-Atlantic communications cable project landed its western terminus at Herring Cove at Hospital Point. In 2000, Worldwide Telecom Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Worldwide Fiber Inc., built its {{convert|30,000|ft2|abbr=on|order=flip}} cable landing station. In 2010, successor Hibernia Atlantic expanded the facility for new cables including a 59 ms cable connecting London to New York City that was expected to enter service in 2012<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8753784/The-300m-cable-that-will-save-traders-milliseconds.html The $300m cable that will save traders milliseconds - Telegraph]</ref> and to provide a strategic speed advantage to financial trading.

==Events==

Popular events include the annual Herring Cove Polar Bear Dip, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herringcovepolarbeardip.com/ |title=Home |website=herringcovepolarbeardip.com}}</ref> Swimmers jump from Government Wharf into the frigid Atlantic waters on New Years Day, raising money for a local charity. [[Ron James (comedian)|Ron James]] and [[Rick Mercer]] participated in the 2011 jump, filming a segment for the ''[[Rick Mercer Report]]''.

== Notable people ==

* [[Shane Bowers (ice hockey)|Shane Bowers]], professional [[ice hockey]] player. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Palov |first=Willy |title=Nova Scotia's Shane Bowers makes bittersweet NHL debut with Colorado Avalanche |work= SaltWire |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/sports/nova-scotias-shane-bowers-makes-bittersweet-nhl-debut-with-colorado-avalanche-100794281/ |access-date=2024-01-17}}</ref>

* [[James Martin Hayes|Archbishop James Martin Hayes]], Roman Catholic [[Archdiocese of Halifax|Archbishop of Halifax]] from 1967 to 1990 who participated in the [[Second Vatican Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-03 |title=Saint Mary's community mourns the passing of Archbishop James Martin Hayes |url=https://news.smu.ca/news/2016/8/9/archbishop-james-martin-hayes |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=SMU News and Events |language=en-CA}}</ref>

* Patrick William Gray (b. 2005), [[YouTube]] content creator infamous for several acts of pedophilia and possession of CSAM content, as well as overall being a massive loser.

==Setting==

The community is at the intersection of [[Nova Scotia Route 253|Route 253]] and [[Nova Scotia Route 349|Route 349]], local roads servicing the southeastern side of the [[Chebucto Peninsula]].

There are several hiking trails in the community; one begins at 'Hayes's garden's' (accessible from the coast road leading to [[Purcell's Cove]]) to "The Monument" and has become a popular place to picnic, and features a splendid view of the Atlantic. This area is N.S. Provincial Park lands. At the highest point on the cliffs ({{convert|30|m|abbr=on}} above sea level), there are two stone monuments constructed of granite boulders in memory of George Brown, a Canadian and Olympic rowing athlete. The look-off also affords a panoramic view of the entrance to [[Halifax Harbour]] north to Halifax and east to [[Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia|Eastern Passage]].

==Gallery==

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="4">

File:HerringCoveP1.jpg|Herring Cove during the early Spring

File:HerringCoveP2.jpg|Herring Cove during the early Spring

File:HerringCoveArea.jpg|The area surrounding Herring Cove at sunset.

File:HerringCoveMem.jpg|A memorial plaque at Herring Cove

</gallery>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

* [https://archive.today/20120714172111/http://maps.halifax.ca/ExploreHRM/viewer.php Explore HRM (map)]

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[[Category:Communities in the Halifax, RegionalNova MunicipalityScotia]]

[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Nova Scotia]]